Madrimov vs Salazar Predictions: The 154-pound boogeyman beckons

Former WBA super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov returns this Saturday, January 24, as he takes on Luis David Salazar. The fight takes place at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas in Nevada, as part of the Raymond Muratalla vs Andy Cruz card. DAZN will carry the event live on their service.

Keep reading for my Madrimov vs Salazar predictions.

Madrimov vs Salazar Odds

Madrimov is a heavy favourite, with the man from Uzbekistan priced at 1/28. Salazar is 12/1 to get the job done while the draw is marketed at 20/1.

Madrimov vs Salazar Fight Preview

Madrimov is at a tricky crossroads in his career. Two consecutive losses have left the 30-year-old looking over his shoulder. In many ways, Madrimov is a victim of his own success.

After knocking out unbeaten Magomed Kurbanov to win the WBA 154lbs title in March 2024, it looked like one of the sport’s bubbling-under names had conclusively broken through. That perceived ascent would seemingly be punctured when Terence Crawford chose the WBA boss as his opponent for his move from welterweight to super welterweight.

‘Bud’ did indeed dethrone Madrimov in the Uzbek’s first defence of his crown. But the champion gave his challenger an utterly torrid time in a closely-fought, gruelling contest. Crawford eked out a deserved unanimous decision win, but the all-time great was never able to get to grips with Madrimov in the same way he later would with Saul Canelo Alvarez, or had done in his historic welterweight unification stoppage of Errol Spence Jr.

The effect on Madrimov was two-fold. Firstly, his reputation rose to a new peak despite the defeat. Secondly, the rugged boxer-puncher became an unwilling member of the ‘who needs him?’ club. There was hardly a queue around the block to fight a boxer who had given Crawford fits, at least not without the incentive of a world title on the line.

Nine months after his star was born against ‘Bud’, Madrimov was supposed to return. But bronchitis put paid to his clash with Serhii Bohachuk, the former WBC interim king. Instead, Madrimov would dust off the gloves against unbeaten future superstar Vergil Ortiz Jr.

It was another fine display from Madrimov, who worked his jab and used nimble footwork to set traps for the young lion. But Ortiz wore him down with body shots, slowing Madrimov’s roll and racking up enough rounds to take home the points victory. Madrimov has gone into detail about how his battle with pneumonia, a grim and persistent spectre of his bronchitis, kiboshed his preparations for Ortiz. Now the Uzbek boxer promises he is stronger and healthier.

He will need to be. Salazar is not epoch-defining like ‘Bud’ or a nailed-on future world champion like Ortiz. But he is 20-1, ambitious and rocking a newfound penchant for the stoppage.

Salazar has seven finishes in his 20 victories, but four of those have come in his last five fights. Granted, none of the fallen are names anyone but the most hardened of anorak will know. But power breeds confidence and Salazar will fancy this task.

That makes him a rare beast. Ask Crawford if he fancies popping out of retirement for another 12 rounds with Madrimov. Ask Ortiz if he wants to risk his ‘0’ one more time against the former world champion. You will find that very few fighters relish meeting this guy.

Madrimov vs Salazar Full Card

Raymond Muratalla vs Andy Cruz

Khalil Coe vs Jesse Hart

Israil Madrimov vs Luis David Salazar

Omari Jones vs Jerome Baxter

Ronny Alvarez vs Braulio Matias Ferreira

Kaipo Gallegos vs Wilson Akinocho

Zaquin Moses vs Leandro Damian Medina

Madrimov vs Salazar Prediction

Salazar is game and will give it a good go. But he is bereft of the sort of grit-flecked persistence needed to put a dent in this guy. I’m picking Madrimov at 1/28.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.